How about those Oscar nominations, eh?

So the list is in of nominees. Twas pretty unspurprising. Indeed, my colleague over at The Irish Times correctly predicted all the major categories. Congratulations, Donnie Clarko!

I'm gonna have a go at predicting the winners, and throw in who I think should win each of the main ones. Here goes...


Actor in a Leading Role

* Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
* Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
* Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
* Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
* James Franco in “127 Hours”

Should Win - Colin Firth in The King's Speech
Likely to win - Colin Firth in The King's Speech

Yeah, it's a really strong performance, Firth should've won last year (for A Single Man) plus, as has been reported, it's a posh English film set in the past. Oscar catnip! I would've loved to have seen Ryan Reynolds nominated for Buried or Joaquin Phonex getting a nod for I'm Still Here, possibly at the expense of Javier Bardem, who was good (but not great) in Biutiful.



Actor in a Supporting Role

* Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
* John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone”
* Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
* Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
* Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech”

Should win (lemme get back to you in a week or two when I've seen The Fighter)
Likely to win - Christian Bale

Bale he's been getting raves for this, plus he had to lose weight and put on a funny accent, which is always endearing to awards voters.



Actress in a Leading Role

* Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
* Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
* Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone”
* Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
* Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Should win - Natalie Portman for Black Swan
Will win - Natalie Portman for Black Swan

Again, physical transformation will work in Portman's favour, but it is a terrific performace (as I've said before). God, I can't understand the acclaim for The Kids Are All Right. It's maybe worth watching if you stumble across it on TV. Maybe.


Actress in a Supporting Role

* Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
* Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech”
* Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
* Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
* Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

Should win - Jacki Weaver for her super turn in Animal Kingdom
Will win - hard to say, but let's say Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech

Animal Kingdom should've gotten more nominations in general, but I really loved Weaver's sly, maternal, sinister turn. God, what an awesome film.

Best Picture

* “Black Swan”
* “The Fighter”
* “Inception”
* “The Kids Are All Right”
* “The King's Speech”
* “127 Hours”
* “The Social Network”
* “Toy Story 3”
* “True Grit”
* “Winter's Bone"

The Kids are All Right? Really? Better than The Town? Come on, Academy! I would've loved to have seen Monsters getting nominated too, but that was never going to happen. My love for The Social Network has been well documented - so smart, relevant and witty, but The King's Speech is a lock for Best Picture. Not a bad film at all.